Title: No Time This Time (Chapter 26 of Don't Stop the Dance)


Author: Xionin

Rating: R

Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Other major characters included.

Feedback: Ilpopi – Thanks again for the tip. I am still learning the ropes of fan fiction, as you can see by my glaring omission of disclaimers, etc. in the earlier chapters. Wolf116 – Did ya like it? Huh? Huh? ;] SilverRain – Grab your box of tissues, honey, cause it's going to be a doozy.


Disclaimer: Q: What should fans do now that they'll have an extra hour free in their schedule? A: "What should they do with that hour? Write fan fic." Joss Whedon, About.com

Notes: Well, this is the final chapter in this series, although there will be a short epilogue. I really hope you're enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I'm counting the days 'til Angel: the Series returns in the fall...for obvious reasons.


Muchas Gracias: Miss Kitty and Siobhan – You guys are so amazing, it hurts.

Enjoy!

~Xionin

No Time This Time

The morning arrives just like any other morning, only...more quiet. Gone is the fighting over the bathroom. Gone is the clanging of dishes in the kitchen. Everyone is cordial, polite to a fault. It may be their last day on earth and no one wants to spend the time bickering over stupid things. The kitchen is virtually deserted, save for Anya and Andrew. They decide that dying on an empty stomach is just unacceptable.

Dawn spent her evening hours picking out an outfit for school. She didn't know what else to do. She'd decided that, on her last day, she wanted to look and feel amazing: like a woman. She'd gone into Buffy's closet and pulled on a pair of black pants that had always been too long for her diminutive sister. She had no guilt about taking them. She knew Buffy wouldn't mind.

Wrapped in her robe, her hair still wet from the shower, Dawn sits at her vanity and moisturizes her face. She applies a very light amount of make-up. It's just enough to fulfill her desire to look good, but not enough to make her look older than her seventeen years. She plugs in the dryer and blows out her hair, adding a bit of John Freida to bring down the frizz.

She dresses in the black pants along with a black shirt that she'd purchased several months ago, when the mall was still open, but never worn. She steps in front of the mirror for inspection. The 2 inch heel on the boots gives her a little more stature.

Not bad. I'm actually...pretty.

It would almost feel like just another day of school, if she wasn't preparing to kill or be killed. She tucks the letter Spike gave her for Buffy securely in her pocket and pats it.

~~~~~~~~

When Buffy wakes up and looks at the clock, it's 6AM.

One hour before the bus arrives.

She tilts her head up and sees Spike watching her. His expression is so serene that her lips curl into a smile.

"Mornin'"

"Mornin' luv." His mouth forms the words, but his voice barely escapes his lips. "You slept." She had. She actually had, and like a baby. Funny what love will bring.

"Yeah." She runs her hand down the side of his face. "You?" She already knows the answer, of course. No.

"Didn't want to, luv." His voice, returning, rumbles beneath her chin in his chest. "Wanted t' make it last." The smile slips away from her lips. The sadness in his eyes is unmistakable.

"Hey," she says softly. "Don't be morose. Neither of us is going anywhere. I won't allow it." He smiles a bit, mostly at the tenacity of the woman in his arms, but also at the absurdity of their situation: A handful of people defending the world against the forces of darkness. It's a comic book scenario.

He bends his head and captures her lips for a soft kiss. They linger a moment before breaking apart. Simultaneously they move, sitting up on the cot, and stretching out their well-used limbs. She stops a moment and looks him in the eyes.

"Ready?"

"As ever, luv."

"Love me?

"Forever luv."

~~~~~~~~~

Robin pulls the bus out front and taps the horn. Almost immediately a string of girls files out the front door carrying various weapons and duffle bags. He watches them approach and can't help but feel both exhilarated and sad. These young women are warriors, or they soon will be, but they're also just scared little girls. It's not right that they should be called upon to do this. But, then again, when has anything in this world ever been right.

"Hi Principal Wood."

"Amanda."

She steps up onto the bus and it barely rocks form the additional weight.

Such a little thing with such an enormous responsibility.

No. It' isn't right, but it's all we've got.

A dozen or so girls are seated now, in the back of the bus. A few boxes of Pop Tarts are being passed around in the guise of 'sustenance for the fight.' Any excuse to get a sugar rush, Wood supposes. He smiles.

Minutes later, the rest of the girls exit the house, followed closely by Faith, Xander and Dawn. Faith lets the others in before her, and when she climbs the three steps, she stops in front of him.

"Hey." She smiles awkwardly.

"Hey yourself." They exchange a look and she moves on. Yep, if they both get out of this, he is definitely going to have to show that girl a thing or two about real life.

Giles leaves the house and walks over to his rental car, pulling out a rather impressive sword. As he walks over to the bus, Wood inquires about it.

"Very nice sword you got there, Rupert." They both laugh, suddenly at the inherent joke.

"Yes, well, it's an...old friend." Giles twists the object back and forth in the sunlight for Wood's inspection.

"A lucky charm?" Wood admires the scrollwork in the blade. It looks very old.

"Er...well, in manner of speaking, yes." Giles smiles and takes a seat behind the driver.

Anya and Andrew walk to the bus arguing about something.

"I won...fair and square!" He whines.

"You did not, you little worm. My wheelchair was much faster. Besides, I threw your brake on when you were putting on your 'racing mask'."

They take their seats. Andrew looks around at the assembled army. His eyes go wide when he rests them on Dawn.

"Wow...Dawn. You look...amazing." She turns to him, her face beaming, glad somebody noticed.

"Th-thanks, Andrew. That's really sweet." She's ready, now. She feels she's passed some important woman-like test. Someone appreciates her, if only for a moment, and it feels good. She pushes away the sadness of knowing that no one else will probably get the chance. In a few hours she may be dead.

Willow and Kennedy are the next to arrive. They stroll down the walkway holding hands as if they haven't a care in the world. Wood watches them with envy and then he quickly glances back at Faith. She is watching them too and turns her gaze to him. He nods. She nods. He smiles. She smiles. They both hope they get the chance.

Buffy and Spike step out on to the shaded porch. She pulls the door tight and actually locks it, which causes Spike to chuckle.

"What?" She suppresses her smile.

"I don't bloody well think any burglars are roamin' about today, pet." He smiles brightly at her, understanding full well what she's trying to do.

"I know." She looks down in a moment of melancholy. His smile fades immediately and he caresses her face, pulling her head up.

"Baby...we'll make it and we'll come back here...and..." He searches her eyes. She smiles and steps into him, cupping his face. They kiss and in doing so they feel every pair of eyes on the bus staring at them, but they don't care.

Giles tilts his head and watches them. It's...moving, the display of love and affection. He suddenly feels like a great ass to have stood in the way of Buffy's happiness. How could he have been so blind to something staring him in the face? When this is over, he will make it up to her...them...somehow.

Buffy and Spike end the kiss, touching their foreheads together.

"I love you."

"I love you too, now get under the blanket and let's go kick a little demon ass." She smirks. He laughs aloud and throws the blanket over himself, making a mad dash for the bus. Robin is tempted to close the door on him...for a moment. When Spike stumbles inside, he locks eyes with the slayer-born son. There is a silent exchange of respect, warrior to warrior. Spike doesn't mistake it for anything other than a truce, and Robin doesn't offer anything more. Spike turns into the bus and stops when he sees the section of windows that have been blackened out. Shocked, he turns back to the Principal.

"Couldn't have you going up in flames...just yet." Wood says, his face expressionless, but his eyes full of determination. Spike grins and nods as Buffy comes up behind him. She looks at Wood and silently thanks him. He ducks his eyes.

"Everyone here?" Buffy surveys the assembly. Not bad. Not bad at all, actually. Everyone looks nervous, but ready for the fight. "OK. Let's go." The bus lurches forward and they're underway.

~~~~~~~

The trip to the school is short, but Buffy and Willow use the time to go over the plan one more time. It should work. Buffy squeezes her best friend's hand in assurance, noting the trepidation on her face.

"I have total faith in you, Will." She says softly. Kennedy squeezes Willow's thigh and gives her a small smile.

"I gotcha, baby." She looks up at Buffy as if to say 'I'm behind you all the way.' Buffy nods and walks to the front of the bus as it rolls to a stop.

"Ok everybody, this is it. I'm not going to give you a speech; I just want to say one thing." Everyone looks at her in anticipation.

"Win."

All of the faces show various signs of determination and fear. Robin opens the door and steps off the bus, followed by Buffy, a running, smoking Spike, and Giles.

~~~~~~~~

"Ok people welcome to Sunnydale High," Robin's voice echoes through the empty halls. "There's only one rule today: kill anything that moves."

Anya and Andrew head down the west wing. Robin goes to the east where Xander will join him. Buffy directs Faith and Spike to take the Potentials down to the seal. Dawn starts to head off with them, but Buffy grabs her arm.

"Dawn, no. You stay up-"

"No...Buffy!" Dawn's composure suddenly cracks at the thought of not fighting with her family.

"Dawn, I can't have you down there I won't be able to protect you!"

"Buffy, please. I can take care of myself. Don't separate us!"

"Dawn..." Buffy is proud of her sister's tenacity, but she really doesn't want her down there. She would lose focus. It's bad enough she's going to be worrying about Spike, but at least he is more than capable of handling himself.

"Giles!" The Watcher stops and turns to her, coming over. "You and Dawn take the Atrium. Can you hold from there?" Giles nods. Dawn quiets as she looks at her sister. There's no way Buffy is going to take her with her. She should've known. Buffy turns her face back to the younger Summers.

"Dawn I-"

"Don't." Dawn fights the rising tears. "Just...don't, Buffy. Anything you say is going to sound like goodbye." Buffy nods as her sister's face grows determined. Dawn grips the crossbow in her hand and she steps back a few inches. "Giles, let's go." She turns and walks down the hall. Buffy smiles, as does Giles.

"She definitely is your sister."

Giles, Buffy, Willow and Xander are left standing alone as the others take their places. It's almost like old times.

"What do you guys want to do tomorrow?" Buffy asks cheerily.

"I vote for Disneyland." Xander offers.

"Been there, done that." Willow replies. "How about some post-apocalyptic shopping?"

"Ooo! Yes. I have been jonesing for some shoes like you wouldn't..."

"I rather would like to drive to the coast for some..."

"Nah, I don't see why you women are always wanting to shop..."

"O-or maybe a trip to San Francisco to see the..."

Buffy, Willow, Xander break off and stride down the hall, splitting off one by one until Buffy is on her own. Giles shakes his head.

"Ah yes...ignored as usual." He heads to the atrium.

When the Slayer arrives at the entrance to the Seal, Spike is there to greet her. They have a short, silent exchange before he gestures for her to enter while upstairs Willow prepares her spell.

"You ready?" Willow asks her lover.

"Yep. Get it done." Kennedy replies.

"Ok...here goes something, I hope." She begins to chant, calling upon her goddess to give her the power to activate the ancient energy of the scythe. After a few minutes, Kennedy becomes uneasy. Nothing's happened yet, and she is beginning to question whether this will work or not.

Suddenly, energy shoots through Willow, and she gets a look of pure ecstasy on her face. Her hair turns a brilliant white and she begins to glow. Just then the girls in the cavern, as well as Kennedy, are imbued with the strength of a Slayer. Willow hands the scythe over to Kennedy as the spell dissipates.

"Get this to Buffy." Kennedy runs out of the room, leaving an exhausted but happy Willow to rest on the floor. "That was nifty."

Both Slayers and the former Potentials feel their powers instantly.

"Whoa...B, you feel that?" Faith asks the Chosen one.

"Oh yeah." She grins. One by one, the girls and Spike all slice their hands to drip blood on the Seal until it opens.

"We're going to Hell," Faith announces, and the girls descend into the ground. Everyone looks out over a vast canyon filled with Ubervamps.

"These guys are so gonna be dust." Vi says, grinning in the euphoria of her newfound strength.

The vamps spot them and rush in. The gang launches into a massive attack and the new slayers are managing their powers impressively. Some of the Ubies escape upstairs, but run into the second wave. Giles takes down several, and Dawn holds her own, opening the roof of the atrium and bathing them in sunlight. On the other end of the hall, Xander manages to removes several Bringers' heads, but Wood takes a knife in the stomach. Xander beheads his attacker before it goes in for the kill, and helps Wood back to the entrance. Down the hall, more Bringers attack Andrew and Anya.

"Oh my! I'm...I'm scared!" Anya's revelation startles her. "I never thought I'd be so petrified. I thought you would be, a-and I'd just be sarcastic about it." She clutches her sword awkwardly.

"It's ok, just...just think good thoughts." Andrew replies. "Sunny days...flowers...fluffy bunnies." Anya's expression goes dark.

"Bunnies?" She grins. "Big. Fluffy. Annoying. BUNNIES." She stands at the ready as the group attacks.

~~~~~~

Underground, the battle is raging. The girls fight impressively. Buffy, Faith and Spike fell several attackers with one blow. Buffy stops momentarily to assess the progress when something stabs her through her shoulder. She drops the scythe, clutching her limp arm in pain. Faith, seeing Buffy fall to her knees, fends of another vamp and goes to her side.

"Hold the line," Buffy says, thrusting the scythe to Faith who nods and goes back into the fray. She doubles over in pain as Amanda's limp body falls before her. The First taunts Buffy about her wound, but it only serves to irritate the Slayer. She manages to stand and fight again, her enhanced slayer strength giving her use of her arm rather quickly. The First disappears, and Buffy reclaims the scythe and goes berserk, killing every Ubie she can reach with the weapon.

Spike goes to strike down another attacker, but stumbles back against the wall as the amulet begins to take effect.

"Buffy." He whispers.

Suddenly a bright, electric energy shoots from it and through him, blasting through the roof of the cavern and the atrium, showering his attacker in a circle of bright sunlight. Upstairs, Dawn and Giles run out of the room to escape the falling debris.

"Buffy!" Dawn runs towards the seal, as Giles tries to stop her. She fights her way through the cavern and sees Spike pinned to the wall and in direct sunlight.

"Spike!" Buffy hears her sister's voice and spins to see her rushing over to him.

"Oh my God, Spike! Dawn!" She fights to get to them.

Just then, the sunlight channels through the amulet, cutting wide swaths across the cavern. It vaporizes all of the Ubervamps one after the other. Dawn, running to his aide, is caught in one of the shafts of light. She freezes.

Her body is held in suspension for a moment and Buffy screams, running to her side while also glancing over to her beloved. Just as suddenly Dawn is released. She collapses on the ground just as Faith reaches her.

"Oh my God, Dawn!" Buffy calls to her sister, but Faith can see Spike over Buffy's shoulder.

"B! I got her. Go to Spike!" She cradles Dawn's limp body in her arms. "Come on, Dawn, wake up." Dawn's eyes flutter open and Faith gasps. Her normally blue eyes are flecked with gold. Dawn smiles and releases herself from Faith's embrace, rising and turning to Spike. Faith grabs her arm and pulls, but Dawn won't budge. Her gaze is locked on the remaining vampire and her distraught sister who has just reached him.

As the light continues to pour from Spike, the cavern becomes unstable. Buffy rushes to his side. Faith manages to pull Dawn towards the entrance.

"Spike!" Buffy's eyes are wide with fear, for the first time today.

"I can feel it, Buffy!" He face is rapturous.

"What?"

"My soul. It's really there." He smiles. "Kinda stings a bit."

Upstairs, the school is falling apart and everyone runs. Xander runs back inside after helping Wood back to the bus, calling for Anya. Andrew runs to him, a look of shock on his face. Xander studies him for a moment and understands. She is gone. Andrew's legs give out and Xander catches him, helping him out of the building.

Back in the cavern, Faith gets Dawn to the entrance and calls out to Buffy.

"OK, baby, you've done enough. Let's go!" Buffy pleads with him, but he shakes his head.

"No, Buffy, I've got to finish this." He doesn't look at her, but instead turns his head to Dawn who smiles. He returns it just as another wave of energy hits him, this one ten times stronger than the last and he is forced to shut his eyes. The light shoots out of the amulet carving a path of destruction along the far wall of the cavern. Large chunks of the ceiling fall to the ground. Dawn takes one last look at him and calmly takes Faith's hand and leads her around her.

"Go up, Faith, I'll wait for Buffy." Faith is about to protest, but it is stolen from her tongue by Dawn's gaze. She nods quickly and runs up the steps. Dawn turns back and walks over to her sister.

"Spike...no! No, you have to come. Let's go! Please..." She drops the scythe. Dawn calmly picks it up, her eyes locked on Spike's face.

"Please don't' leave me here alone...please! I love you!" Buffy is crying now.

"You're not alone, Buffy. You never will be again, lamb." He smiles at Dawn and then at his beloved. Buffy looks at her sister and notices a feint glow surrounding her. She looks back at Spike and sees the same aura but only more intensified. Her eyes are wide in confusion. She raises her hand and entwines her fingers in his. They catch fire and Buffy winces form the initial pain but then, through it, she feels something else.

"Oh. Oh my...Spike!" She looks up at him, tears flowing down her cheeks, and she smiles. "I feel it too! Your soul...it's...it's so...'

"Beautiful." Dawn finishes, smiling.

Another blast of energy and Buffy is thrown away from him. She and Dawn have to take a few steps back. She is about to rush forward again when his voice stops her.

You have to go on living, pet, so one of us is living.

Buffy looks up at him and their eyes meet. He is radiant in the sunlight...beautiful...glowing. It takes her breath away; she's never seen anything so gorgeous. She reaches her hand forward and he does the same.

I love you... she thinks.

...til the end of time. He replies.

Dawn grabs her sister and pulls her towards the entrance as the ceiling above them begins to crumble. She pushes Buffy before her and turns for one last look. Spike's eyes are closed and he looks so peaceful.

"Goodbye, Spike. I love you and I'll never forget."

He doesn't respond, but she knows. She knows.

~~~~~~

Working on pure adrenaline and instinct, they race back towards the entrance, dodging debris left and right. They practically dive for the back door of the bus as it peels away. Hands grab them immediately to help them aboard. Behind them, the ground is caving in on itself.

"Buffy! Dawn!" Willow rushes forth to hug them. She grabs some gauze from Vi, who has taken over a the resident medic, and presses it to Buffy's injured shoulder. "I'm so glad..." She is cut off by Buffy's expression. She looks at Dawn. "Dawnie...your eyes..."

There isn't time to finish the thought as Giles swerves the bus to avoid a collapsing wall. He speeds away from the Hellmouth with his foot on the floor.

~~~~~~

Back in the cavern the amulet's energy has changed. The beams are no longer shooting out, as the cavern is well on its way down. Instead a bubble forms around its bearer. He is barely conscious of the fact that the stinging has stopped.

"Ah." He moans, laughing. "I did it myyyyyyyy waaaaaaaaaay." His voice fades as the bubble of energy collapses upon itself and him, winking out in a single point of light.

~~~~~~

Racing away from the destruction, Dawn holds her sister on the floor of the bus; Willow helping to support her. Suddenly both sisters jump with a start and turn their heads back to the quickly vanishing town.

"No." Buffy breathes. Dawn places her hand on her sister's cheek and Buffy turns to her. "Spike." She whispers. Dawn responds silently, her eyes flickering gold and then returning to their brilliant blue.

They both know that he is gone.

They drive for another quarter hour before Faith calls out to Giles to pull over.

"We're clear!" The bus comes to a screeching stop as everyone who is able jumps out and goes back to survey the damage.

"Wow." Faith says.

"We did it." Vi responds.

"Yeah, we did it!" Rona exclaims. Xander and Andrew walk slowly to the edge of the crater.

"Uhhh...Andrew, did you...did she..." Xander's voice trembles. Andrew stops and turns to him.

"She was amazing. You would have been so proud." He smiles a small smile. "She died saving my life." Xander looks down at the word 'died'.

"That's my girl...always doing the stupid thing." He wipes at his tears angrily, forcing a sad smile.

Buffy and Dawn walk hand in hand to the edge and peer across. Buffy is lost, she doesn't hear or feel anything save the presence of her sister.

Her tears flow freely now. Spike is gone. Spike is dead. Dawn watches over her protectively, knowing exactly what she's thinking.

"I-I don't understand." Giles shakes his head. "What did this?" Willow and Xander walk up next to him and they all stare at the devastation in disbelief. Dawn and Buffy look at each other for a moment and then Dawn turns to Giles, her hair whipping in the breeze.

"Spike." She says softly, looking at each of them. Giles frowns and tilts his head. Xander's mouth drops open and he steps towards Buffy and places his arm around her shoulder.

"I'm...sorry." He looks out over the horizon.

The others walk up one by one as the group looks back on what was once Sunnydale.

"Well...what are we gonna do now?" Rona asks shakily, thinking of all of the ones that didn't make it.

"Yeah, B. We're not the only ones anymore. Feels...good, doesn't it?" She walks up behind her. "So, what do you wanna do...now that the world's your oyster?"

The 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign teeters in the breeze and falls into the crater.

Buffy smiles.

Spike.

TBC Epilogue: Gabriel's Message